What is SCD devices? Not famililar with that abbreviation. Regardless of that, I would have to see the evidence to support this recommendation before I would be able to accept it or follow it. Did they provide any references? Lynn

They are sequential compression devices that are used for patients who lie in bed to prevent DVT's. I am not in favor of this at all. The chance of phlebitis I think is high. I have not found any evidence.

OK, now I know what we are talking about. These devices might be effective if applied only to the forearm, but again I do not know of any evidence to support their use. When you look at the causes of catheter-related thrombosis, this treatment does not match the causes - catheters too large for the vein lumen, improper tip location, inadequately stablized catheters allowing for dislodgement to smaller veins, tip migration due to changing pressures, plus all the hypercoagulable factors presented by the patient alone. These compression devices would seem to me to have the potential for increasing vein thrombosis because the compression will bring the vein wall into greater contact with the catheter wall, causing endothelial disruption and thrombus. Seems to me to be a very questionable, possibly dangerous off-label use of these devices. One the other hand, if the catheter is too large and producing obstruction to venous flow, the SCD on the forearm could prevent flow stagnation by increasing the flow through collateral vessels. But then again, we could prevent the entire problem by choosing a smaller catheter. Lynn

This is a topic that I have huge interest in. I am gathering my data and will let you know what I find. As per some of the patents on these devices, they reduce venous stasis.... Stais occurs simply from immobility, especially in the ICU population. We see edematous extremities in this patient group quite frequently. Let's complicate this picture even more and put a large lumened catheter in a peripheral vein, where stasis exists, and I think we have a serious combination. but as I said, I will gather some data and report back. Great topic!